Top 5 Best Photo Printer Models in 2022

By Alice Ross | GADGETS & TECH

Apr 11
best photo printer 2022

The quality outcome of photographs produced by digital cameras is affected by its resolution. The larger the resolution size is the better image you will get. However, when printing your photo on paper, you may notice that the quality of the physical photo itself would not be as good as its digital counterpart. This is because the photo printer itself affects the output quality of the photos, that’s why it’s important to find the best photo printer.

Today, there are a lot of digital camera printers you can find in the market. They are available in different brand names, features, and prices which make it hard for people to find the right photo printer for them.

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**Below, you'll find more detailed reviews, but you can also click links above to check current prices and read customer's reviews on Amazon.

When looking for the best photo printer, you have to know that there are many factors to consider. They are available in different formats so it’s important that you’re fully aware before buying. Hopefully, this buyer's guide will help you find the right photo printer that you need.

Photo Printer Buying Guide

Contrary to popular belief, not all printers are the same and won’t provide you with the same output. But then again, you don’t have to spend a lot of money just to be able to get a photo printer that will give you the result you desire. Here are some questions you need to answer before deciding on spending money on a photo printer. 

How much is your budget?

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First of all, you have to know how much you are willing to spend on buying your photo printer! Photo printers range in prices, but one thing is for sure, there is always something for any budget. You must also consider the possible maintenance cost. This means regularly having to replace the ink and paper, which can be quite expensive. It is important to do your research first on this part! Furthermore, there are printers that only let you change inks at the same time that can be quite expensive, especially if the ink is an issue. Luckily, most printers today have the cartridges replaceable.

What type of photos are you planning to print?

If we’re being honest, most photo printers in the market can’t print great grayscale photos. It’s a common complaint among customers. Many printers print out grayscale photos that have a visible tint, something that could ruin a good picture. So, if you’re considering purchasing a photo printer that is one of the top things you want to know about.

What sizes and thickness do you want?

photo thickness

Depending on what result you are looking for, you have to know what size of paper a printer can print. Most big professional photo printers are capable of printing up to 13” by 19”, or sometimes even bigger. The smaller printers normally just produce a standard photo size. If you’re looking for a photo printer for the purpose of commercial reasons, then you may want to choose a machine that is capable of producing bigger prints.

Similarly, you have to consider the thickness of canvas you want to print the photos on. So, if you would like to print on cardboard, make sure that the printer you’re purchasing is capable of doing this! If you’re just planning to print on paper then you can disregard this factor.

How do you want the connectivity would be?

When buying the best photo printer, knowing the connectivity is another important factor to look at. Most printers in the market are able to print from a computer through a USB connection. That’s alright if you are only planning to use it at home or office. However, if you want something that is more convenient, then Bluetooth and wifi connection would be easier for you to print photos straight from your smartphone.

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How much do you print?

Before you set out to buy a printer, it is important to know the number of maximum prints the printer can do for you or its monthly duty cycle. It is important to ensure that this number is higher than the actual quantity of photo you want to print out. There are manufacturers that don’t disclose this form of information, so if this is something that matters to you, try to find another printer. 

Our Top Picks for the Best Photo Printers

The best photo printer for you doesn’t need to be the one that offers most features or expensive one. It has to be the one that gives you what you need. As long as it offers the functions you need, it should be good to go.

And because we know that finding the right one is never easy, here are our suggestions for some of the best ones you can find in the market today.

best-camera-for-wildlife-photography

Via Amazon.com

The Epson PictureMate PM-400 is probably our favorite photo printer in this list. It prints beautiful photos and very easy to operate.
The Epson PictureMate PM-400 is a small photo printer that produces high-quality of different sizes and has a user interface that makes printing a piece of cake. While bigger printers might have more print-size selections and stronger media support, PM-400 matched them in terms of quality. This is probably one of the best photo printer models out there.

98
/100

Editor's Rating: 98/100

Price On Amazon: from $199.99


Pros

  • It is affordable thinking that it produces wide format
  • It has a 6-color ink system so it means it produces different effects on photo
  • It is compact and lightweight

Cons

  • It doesn’t have media card slots 
  • It only works well on photo paper and not simple paper

Canon SELPHY CP1300 has a little lower print quality compared to other models, but it might be worth the option if you’re into its features such as Party Shuffle and photo-strip printing. What we like about this is the look of it. Although it takes up bigger room on your desktop compared to other portable photo printers we have mentioned, it has 3.2 adjustable LCD screen and some other features and settings that allow you to adjust photos according to your preference.
This printer is able to sync with more than a single smartphone at the same time, which is what called Party Shuffle. Furthermore, you are able to choose the size of photo you want to print and make photo strip booth if you want.
However, there are some downsides you need to be aware of. For instance, its print quality could be better. This printer produces brighter photos than other zinc inkless media printers in the market, but the printed output did not precisely create darker colors.

97
/100

Editor's Rating: 97/100

Price On Amazon: from $109.97


Pros

  • It has many novel and customizable options for printing
  • It prints out water-resistant photos
  • It is wireless
  • It is compact

Cons

  • It produces washed-out colors
  • The advertised 4×6 prints are not accurate

Another one from the SELPHY line is the Canon SELPHY CP910, which is straightforward to use and is also wireless. This is a compact photo printer made specifically for photographers. Just like the other one, it claims to print out a maximum size of 4 x 6 inches.
Many love this photo printed due to its compact design. With more than 2 inches in length and 7 inches in width, you can take it anywhere you go. It offers a fold up 2.7-inch LCD, where you will be able to navigate the menus with multiple buttons over the printer. With the LCD, you can even edit your photos before printing them out.
This is also a wireless photo printer. Using Wi-Fi, you can connect this photo printer to your smartphone, computer, or tablet. Just make sure you have Canon's Easy-PhotoPrint app downloaded in order to do this. If this is a little more work for you, there is always the USB cable to save the day!

95
/100

Editor's Rating: 95/100

Price On Amazon: from $139.99


Pros

  • It is very lightweight and compact
  • It prints out less than a minute
  • It has an attractive design
  • It prints out water-resistant photos
  • Fast connectivity

Cons

  • It produces washed-out colors
  • The advertised 4×6 prints are not accurate

You can find many cameras on the market that print out instant photos today. However, HP Company provides us with a great device called HP Sprocket photo printer that does that job. It’s a pocket printer that you can bring anywhere which is perfect for printing out selfies. The HP Sprocket is a good option for frequent social media users because of its simple design and web connectivity.
At just a little bit more than 9 inches, and it is definitely one of the smallest of the photo printers out there. Because of its small size, it doesn’t have a lot of control buttons. You could just print in one size, and while the app has some editing options, you cannot adjust settings and connectivity options as with other printers out there.

93
/100

Editor's Rating: 93/100

Price On Amazon: from $129.95


Pros

  • It is small, lightweight, and straightforward
  • It connects through Bluetooth
  • It is convenient for those who like social media

Cons

  • Its photo paper is a little expensive
  • Its photo output is warm
  • Some photos may come out faded

Another compact, easy-to-use photo printer is this HP Envy 4520. This multi-function inkjet printer is able to handle different output with high-quality photos printing, can connect to your devices and not only your computer.
HP Envy 4520 print supports Google Cloud Print as well as Apple Airprint. This device is equally appropriate for home and office since the monthly duty cycle of this printer goes up to 1000 pages. However, it does not come with Automatic Document Feeder that’s needed for scanning. Actually, you’ll barely find this feature in a cheaper printer. Even though HP 4520 offers cloud printing using Wi-Fi, it does not support LAN connectivity. It also has a slot for memory card.

90
/100

Editor's Rating: 90/100

Price On Amazon: from $49.99


Pros

  • It has many connectivity options
  • It supports automated two-sided printing 
  • It uses ink delivery technology
  • It has XL Cartridges 
  • It is wireless 

Cons

  • It cannot create labels for CD/DVD
  • It does not come with Automatic Document Feeder

Summary

With the convenience of technology, taking pictures and uploading them online seems like one of the best ways to keep memories alive. For some, however, being able to print them in the physical paper makes it more special. Photo printers are great accessories for those who like keeping memories and being able to put them where they can always see them even without the presence of the internet.
Hopefully, this article has been helpful in your decision in finding the best photo printer for you. if you have other question or suggestions to make this article better, let us know in the comment below!

Rating: 4.57 (7 votes)

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Alice Ross, a long-term traveler who left the corporate world to travel the world. I chose to live life on my own phase and live day by day while immersing myself in new experiences, new knowledge, and new people in a different walk of life I met along the way.

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